podium panic

‘NO IT’S NOT!’

Probed again on the subject today at his election press conference in Central London, Mr Hammond dropped his hint that the self-employed would continue to be protected.

He was speaking at a press conference to launch his party’s attack on Labour’s economic polices, saying a £45billion black hole in their financial plans will detonate a tax and debt "bombshell" if the party takes power.

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He was speaking at the launch of the Tories' new election poster

The Chancellor was with the Brexit Secretary David Davis at the event in central London in an attempt to drive the election battle on to the economy.

They also unveiled an election poster showing Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and a bomb behind his head with the slogan: "Corbyn: No Bombs for our Army, One big bombshell for your family."

Mr Davis said: "Jeremy Corbyn's nonsensical and irresponsible ideas pose a grave risk to the future of Britain's economy and the finances of every family in the country.”

Reuters

The party issued a dossier claiming Labour would leave a £45bn black hole in the nation's finances

The Conservatives issued a dossier claiming the financial "black hole" would be apparent midway through the next parliament in 2019-2020 if Labour stuck to its tax and spending commitments.

But a Labour Party spokesman said: "This is yet more nonsense from a Tory campaign that's all slogan and no substance.

"It's the latest desperate attempt to distance themselves from their failures and to distract from the fact that they've not ruled out hitting those on lower and middle incomes with further tax increases.